Molded paper pulp egg carton



r July 31, 1956 L. scHwARTzBERG 2,756,918

Filed April 23, 1952 W e w w W 5 ,w O Z July 31, 1956 L. scHwARTzBERG MOLDED PAPER PULP EGG CARTON 6 Sheets-Shee't 2 Filed April 25, 1952 July 31, 1956 L. scHwARTzBERG 2,756,9l8

July 31, 1956 L. scHwAR'rzBERG MOLDED PAPER PULP EGG CARTON 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1952 July 31, 1956 L. SCHWARTZBERG MOLDED PAPER PULP EGG CARTON Filed April 28, 1952 6 SheetS-Sheet 5 July 31, 1956 L. scHwARTzBERG MoLDED PAPER PULP GG cARToN Filed April 23, 1952 United States Patent Ofiice 2,756,918 Patented July 31, 1956 MOLDED PAPER PULP EGG CARTON Louis Schwartzberg, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 23, '1952, Serial N o. 283,908

4 Clams. (Cl. 229-25) The present invention rclates generally to egg cartons. More particularly the invention relates to that type of carton which serves as a medium or instrumentality for retaining and transporting eggs with a minimum amount of breakage, is formed of molded paper pulp, and as its principal components comprises: (l) a rectangular onepiece tray-like lower section which has an outwardly extending rim around the upper portion of its side and end walls, embodes a longitudinal series of equidistantly' spaced hollow posts which extend upwards from the bottom wall, are upwardly tapered and have closed tops and open bottorns, and also embodies a rib construction which consists of upwardly and inwardly extending hollow ribs on the side and end walls and upwardly extending shallow transverse and longitudinal ribs on its bottom wall and is so arranged with respect to the posts that it forms therewith a plurality of open top compartments which are adapted to receive the bottom portions of the eggs; and (2) a complernental rectangular one-piece' inv verted tray-like upper section which has an outwardly extending rim around the lower portions of its side and end walls, is hinged at one side portion of its rim to one side portion of the rim of the lower section `in order' that it may be swung back and forth between a closed or operative position wherein it overlies and registers with the lower section and an open position wherein it is in side by side relation with the lower section, embodies a longitudinal series of equidistantly spaced hollow posts which extend downwards from its top wall, are downwardly tapered, correspond in number to, and are in alignment with, the upwardly extending posts on the bottom wall of the lower section and have closed bottoms and open tops, and also embodies a rib construction which consists of downwardly and inwardly extending hollow ribs on its side and end walls and downwardly extending` transverse and longitudinal ribs on its top wall and is so arranged with respect to its posts that it forms therewith a plurality of open bottom compartments which correspond in number to, and serve as complements of, the compartments in the lower section and are adapted when the upper section is in its closed position to receive the upper portions of the eggs.

A standard or conventional egg carton of the aforementioned type has fixed or predetermined length, width and height and is so constructed so far as the posts and) rangement of the posts of its lower and upper Sections it is capable of retaining one and one-half dozen eggs while at the same time it has the same fixed or predetermined length, width and height as a standard or conventional single dozen egg carton. In general the improved carton involves a construction wherein the upwardly extending posts on the bottom wall of the lower section are. six in number and are approximately half as high .as the side and end walls of the lower section and the downwardly or depending posts on the top wall of the upper section are six in number, are of materially greater height than the side and end walls of the upper section and are so proportioned as to be capable of containing therein an extra half dozen eggs. By providing an egg carton which is the same in dimensions (length, width and height) as a standard or conventional single dozen carton but -is capable of retaining one and one-half dozen eggs material savings in freight and storage charges may be etfected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a molded paper pulp egg carton in which the downwardly extending posts on the top wall of the upper section are of such height that when the upper section is in its closed position the closed bottoms thereof rest on the closed tops of the upwardly extending posts on the bottom of the lower` section and the tops of the upwardly extending posts on' the bottom wall of the bottom section are dished or cupshaped in order to permit limited downward deflection of the closed bottoms of the downwardly extendng posts and thus cushion the lower ends of the six eggs that are retained in said downwardly extending posts on the top wall of the upper section.

A further object of the invention is to provide an eggl carton of the type under consideration which comprises in addition to the lower and upper sections a rectangular one-piece tray-like rm equipped cover that is hinged at one side portion of its rim to the side portion of the rini of the lower section that is opposite the hinge connection between the lower end upper Sections in order that it is capable when the upper section is in its closed position to' swing back and forth between a closed position wherein it covers and surrounds the upper section and an open position wherein it is in side by side relation with the lower section and eXposes the upper section, and serves4 when in its closed position not only to reenforce the carton as a whole but also to hold in place the eggs that are retained or disposed in the hollow downwardly extending posts on the top wall of the upper section.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a molded paper pulp egg carton which is generally of new and improved construction, eifectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose, is capable of being manufactured at substantially the same cost as a standard or conventional single dozen molded paper pulp egg carton, and is an improvement upon, and has greater capacity than,

the carton forming the subject matter of United Statesl Letters Patent No. 2,285,129, granted to me on June 2,

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present egg carton `w'ill be `apparent from a consideration of the following detailed" description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly' defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part'of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top perspective showing a molded paper pulp egg carton embodying the invention with the cover and upper section thereof in their closed positions;

Figure 2iis a top perspective showing the carton without the cover and with the upper section in its closed pov sition; o

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the 'upper 3 section in its open position wherein it is disposed in side byxside'rela-tion with-the 'lower section;

Figure 4 is a plan view of zthe carton showing the upper section in its closed position and the cover ,in its open position;

'Fignre '5 is a side elevation of the carton with-the cover omitted, the upper section being shown in its closed position; w

Figure 6 is an end elevation showing the upper section and cover in their open positions wherein they are disposed at 'the sidesof the lower section;

-Figure 7 is -an enlarged Vertical transverse section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure and showing the upper section and 'thecover in their closed positions;

Figure 8 :is a Vertical transverse section taken on the line 18.-8 of Fi'gure 5 and'illu'strating the cover in a partially open position; and

Figures 9 and 10 are Arespectively Vertical longitudina'l Sections on the lines 9.-9 and 1,0-10 .of Figure 8.

The carton which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention and is adapted for use 'in retaining and transporting one and onehalf .dozen eggs. It is formed of molded paper pulp and is substantially the same in length, width and height asa standard or conventional single dozen molded paper pulp container of the 2 X 6 type. As its parts or components the carton comprises a rectangular tray-like lower section 11, a complemental r-ectangular normally inverted tray-like upper section 12 and `ra rectangular normally inverted ltraylike cover 13 rfor the upper section 12.

The lower section 11 of the carton is of one-piece character and comprises a flat bottom wall 14, a .pair of opposed side walls 15 and a pair of opposed end walls 16. The side walls 15 .of the lower section 11 are upwardly and outwardly inclined and have the bottom margins thereof joined to the side margins of the bottom wall 14. The end walls 16 are upwardly and outwardly inclined and have their bottom margins joined to the end margins of the bottorn wall 1d and their end margins joined to the end margins of the side wall. In addition to the bottom, side land end walls the lower section 11 comprises an integral rectangular rim 17 which is formed integrally with, and projects Voutwards from, the upper margins of the side and end walls. 'Such rim is flat .and comparativel-y wide as best shown in Figures 3, 7 and 8. The lower section and the complemental upper section are adapted to retain or house one and .one-half dozen eggs. As shown in Figures 8 and 10 the height of the lower section is approirimately twothi-rds of the mean height .of the .eggs The bottom wall 14 Vis provided with a longitudinal series of six equidistantly spaced upwardly extending ;frustoconical posts 18. The latter l'are hollow and have open bottomsand closed tops 19. They are positioned midway between the side walls 15 and are approxirnately half as high -as the side walls. As shown in Figures 3, 9 and 10, the post at the right hand end of the series is spaced from the right hand end wall of the lower section a greater distance than the post at the left hand end of the series is spaced from the left hand end wall. The reason for this will be described hereafter. The closed tops 19 of the posts 18 are, in effect, top end walls and are concave or dished see Figures 7 and l9). Each of the upwardly and outwardly inclined side walls 15 of the lower section 11 is provided with a long'itudinal series of six upwardly and inwardly extending hollow ribs 20. 'The latter taper upwardly and are transversely aligned with `the frustocenical pssts 18- They are of .full height insofar as they extend from the bottom wall 14 to the rirn 1'7. Each of the upwardly and outwardly inclined end walls 16 of the lgwer section 11 is provided midway between its ends with a single upwardly and inwardly extending hollow rib 21.` The ribs 21 taper upwardly and are in longitudinal alirgnrnent with the series of posts 18. The bottom Wall 14 of the lower section 11 is provided with two rows of pwardlv eatning equidistantly Spaced twllow transverse ribs 22. As shown in Figure 3 the two rows are disposed at opposite sides of lthe 'longitudinal Vseries of posts 18 and there are six ribs 22 in each row. The ribs 22 are approximately half as high as the posts 18 and have the inner ends thereof joined to the lower portions of the posts 18 and the outer ends thereof joined to the lower portions of the upwardly and inwardly extending full length ribs 20 on the side `walls 15. In addition to the ribs 22 the `bottorn wall 14 is Vprovided with 1a single row of seven upwardly extending equidistantly spaced hollow longitudinal ribs 23 Vand these are the same iin height as the ribs 22. The intermediate longitudinalribs, i. e., the longitudinal ribs other than the end 'longitudina'l ribs, extend between, and are joined to, the ;lower portions of the posts 18. The end longitudinal ribs extend between, and are joined to, the lower portions of the ribs 21 and the lower portions of the end posts, i. e., the posts at the ends of the longitudinal series of the lposts 18. Therribs Z), 21, 22 and 23 together with the posts 18 and the side and end walls of the lower section 11 define tw o side .by side rows of open top compartments 24. As ,shown in Figures 3 and 10 there are seven open top compartments in each row. The compartments other than the two left hand compartrnents as viewed in the last mentioned Vfigures, are of uniform size and are adapted to receive the bottom portions of a dozen eggs. Due to the .spacing of the series of posts 18 with respect to the end walls 16 the two left hand compartments, i. e-, the compartments at the left hand end of the lower section, are vof less `size than the egg receiving compartments ,and form or .constitute dead spaces. As the result of the fact .that the left hand compartrnents are of less size than the egg receiving compartrnents they are not adapted to receive ;or retain eggs and .the lower section is non-symmet'rical. :Due to its particular construction and design .the lower section '11 of ,the carton may be readily molded between complemental moid sections and is light in weight.

The eomplemental upper section 12 is the same lin length and width as the lower section 11. It is of onepiece .Character and `comprises a top wall 25, a pair of opposed vside walls 26 and a pair of opposed end Walls 27.. The height of the upper section 12 is preferably slightly greater than the height of the lower section 11. The top wall 25 of the upper section is fiat like the bottom wall 1.4 of the lower section. The side walls 26 .of the upper section are downwardly and .outwardly inclined .and have the upper margins thereof joined `to the side margins of the top wall 25. The end walls 27 are downwardly and outwardly inclined and have the upper margins thereof joined to the end margins of the top wall 25 and their end margins joined to the end margins of the Side walls 26. In .addition to the top, side and end walls the upper 'section 12 comprises an integral rectangular rim 28 which is formed integrally with, and projects outwards from, the lower margins of the side and end walls 26 .and 27. Such rim is flat and corresponds in size to the rim 17 of the lower section 11,. One side portion of the rim 28 is joined to one of the side portions of the rim 17 by an integral hinge connection 29 in order that the upper section 12 is capable of swinging back and forth between `a closed .or operative position wherein it overlies and registers with the lower section (see Figures 2, 5 and 7 to 10, inclusive) and an open position wherein its interior faces upwards and it is in side by side relation with the lower section (see Figures 3 and 6). The hinge connection 29 is preferably formed by forming integrally the outer edges of the aforesaid side portions of the two rims and longitudinally 7scoring the integral portion. The top Wall 25 is provided with a longitudinal series of six equidistantly spaced downwardly extending posts 30. The latter are preferably frusto-pyramidal, although, if desired, they may be frustofconical like the posts 18 of the lower section. They are hollow and have open tops and closed bottoms 31.

As shown in certain figures of the drawings, the posts 30A are disposed midway between the side walls 26 and are in alignment with the six posts 18 of the lower section. The height and width of the posts 30 are materially greater than the height and width of the posts 18 and are such that the interiors of the posts constitute open top compartments 32 for a half dozen eggs. The posts 30 are materially greater in height than the side Walls 26 and are of such height that when the upper section 12 is in its closed position their bottoms 31 rest on the tops 19 ofthe posts 18. As shown in the drawings, the dimensions of the base portions of the compartments 32 are substantially the same as the dimensions of the base portions of the compartments 24 in the lower section 11. The bottoms 31 of the posts 30 are fiat, as shown in`Figure`s 7 and 9 andV`y are adapted to support the lower ends of the half dozen eggs in the open top compartments 32. Due to the fact that the tops 19 of the posts 18 are dished or cup-shaped the bottoms 31 of the posts 30 are permitted to flex downwards and thus cushion the eggs in the compartments 32. As shown in Figures 3, 4, 9 and 10 the post at the right hand end of the series is spaced from the right hand end wall 27 of the upper section a greater distance than the left hand end post 30 is spaced from the left hand end wall 27. Each of the downwardly and outwardly inclned side walls 26 of the upper section 12 is provided with a longitudinal series of six downwardly and inwardly extending hollow ribs 33. The latter taper downwards and are transversely aligned with the frusto pyramidal posts 30.

They are of full height insofar as they extend from the top' wall to the rim 28. Each of the downwardly and outwardly inclned end walls 27 of the upper section 12 is provided midway between its ends with a single downwardly and inwardly extending hollow rib 34. The ribs 34 taper downwards and are in longitudinal alignment with the series of posts 30. The top wall 25 is provided with two rows of downwardly extending equidistantly spaced transverse ribs 35. As shown in Figure 3, the two rows are disposed at opposite sides of the longitudinall series of posts 30 and there are six ribs in each row. The ribs 35 are approximately one-third as high as the side walls 26 and extend between, and are joined to, the upper portions of the posts 30 and the ribs 33. In addition to the ribs 35 the top wall 25 is provided with a single row of seven downwardly extending equidistantly spaced longitudinal ribs 36. These are the same in height as the ribs 35. The intermediate longitudinal ribs 36 extend between, and are joined to, the upper portions of the posts 30 and the end longitudinal ribs 36 extend between, and are joined to, the ribs 34 and the posts at the ends of the series of posts 30. The ribs 33, 34, 35 and 36 together with the posts 30 and the side and end walls 26 and 27 of the upper section 12 define two side by side rows of open bottom compartments 37. As shown in Figures 3 and 10 there are seven open bottom compartments 37 in each row. The compartments 37, other than the two left hand compartments 37 as viewed in the last mentioned figures, are of uniform size and are adapted when the upper section is in its closed position, to register with the twelve equal size egg receiving compartments 24 and to receive the upper portions of the dozen eggs in the last mentioned compartments. The two left hand compartments 37 as viewed in Figures 3, 9 and 10 are smaller in size than the egg receiving compartments 37 and form dead spaces at the left hand end of the upper section.

The rectangular normally inverted tray-like cover 13 constitutes the third component of the carton and consists of a rectangular top wall 38, a pair of opposed side walls 39 and a pair of opposed end walls 40. It is of one-piece construction and is adapted to enclose the upper section 12 when the latter is in its closed position wherein it overlies the lower section 11. The top wall 38 is flat. The opposed side walls 39 extend downwards from the top wall. They are downwardly and outwardly inclned and have the upper margins thereof joined or connected to the side margins of the top wall 38. The opposed end walls 40 extend downwards from the top wall, are downwardly the cover 13 comprises a rectangular rim 41. The latter is connected to, and projects outwardly from, the lower margins of the side and end walls 39 and 40. The cover is shaped so as snu'gly to receive the upper section 12, as

I shown in Figure 7. One side portion of the rim 41 is con- ``in the upper carton section.

nected by a hinge connection 42 to the side portion of the rim 17 that is opposite the side portion of the rim 17 having the hinge connection 29. The hinge connection 42 is the same in design as 'the hinge connection 29 and serves to permit the rectangular tray-like cover 13 to be swung back and forth between a closed or operative position wherein it extends around and completely covers the upper carton section 12, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, and' an open position wherein it is disposed in side by side relation with the lower section 11, as shown in Figure 6.

When it is desired to use the carton the cover 13 and the upper section 12 are swung into their open positions wherein they are disposed at opposite sides of the lower section 11. 'Thereafter twelve eggs are inserted into the twelve open top egg receiving compartments 24 in the lower section 11. After inserting the twelve eggs into place the upper section 12 is swung into its closed position. When the upper section is in such position the upper portions of the aforementionedtwelve eggs are disposed in the twelve egg receiving open bottom compartments 37 After swinging the upper section into its closed position six eggs are inserted into the six open top egg receiving compartments 32 in the posts 30. Thereafter the cover 13 is swung into its closed position in order that the top wall 38 thereof serves to retainv thelsix eggs in the aforementioned top compartments-32.

The herein described carton effectively and efliciently fulfills its intended purpose and is characterized by the fact that, due to its particular design and construction, it is capable of retaining one and one-half dozen eggs while occupying no more space than a standard or conventional single dozen molded paper pulp egg carton. lar arrangement of parts makes it possible to produce the carton with facility and at a comparatively low cost.

Whereas the lower section of the carton has been illustrated and described as beingof the so-called 2 X 6 type it is to be understood that it may be made to be of the 3 X 4 variety with a corresponding change in the upper section.

It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a carton adapted to retain one and one half dozen eggs of substantially the same size, having substantially the same overall dimensions as a conventional or standard single dozen egg carton of the same general character, and comprising a rectangular tray-like lower section formed of molded paper pulp, embodying a bottom wall, a pair of opposed upwardly extending side walls and a pair of opposed upwardly extending end walls, having on its bottom wall six only spaced apart hollow upstanding upwardly tapered posts with open bottoms and closed tops and of materially less height than the side and end walls, and provided on its bottom, side and end walls with a hollow internal rib construction of such character that it defines with the upstanding posts twelve open top compartments for receiving and accommodating the bottom portions of one dozen of the eggs, and a complemental rectangular normally inverted tray-like upper section formed of molded paper pulp, embodying a top wall, a pair of opposed downwardly extending side walls and a pair of opposed downwardly extending end walls, adapted to move into The particuand -rout of :an operative position zwherein itoverlies `.and registers with the lower section, and havingon its top Wall six only hollow depending downwardly :t-perfed posts arranged so that -when'the upper section is:in-.its=operative position they are vin alignment with the .upstanding zposts of the flower section, :said dependingzposts Vhavirrgopen 'tops andclosed bottoms and being of rnateriallI greater height than the sideand'end walls `of theupper section, of materially ,greater mean width than the :upstanding posts of the lower section and `of such height that when said upper section is in `its operative position the :closed bottorns thereof vrest on the -clo'sedtops vof the `upstanding posts of said lower section, saiddepending posts being shaped and proportioned to forzm open topcompartments `for .receiving and substantially completely housing the half dozen of lthe eggs and `vhaving :the dimensions :of their base ,portions substantially -the same as the dimensions of the base portions of the open top compartments in the lower section, saidupper section being provided 'on its top, side and end walls with a vvhollow internal -rib construction of such Character that it vdefines with the depending -posts `'twelve open bottom'compartments arranged'similarly Ito the open top compartrnents yin -the lower section and adapted when the upper section is in its operative position to receive and accommodate the -uplper portions of the one dozen eggs in said open 'top compartments in the lower section.

2. A carton according to claim 1 and in which the closed tops of the hollow upstanding vupwardly tapered posts of the lower section are `concave and the closed bottoms of the hollow depending 'downwardly -tapered posts of the upper section are flat and are adapted when lthe upper section is in its operative position to rest on :the marginal 'portions of the concave -tops of said posts of the lower section.

3.`A carton according to v.claim 1 and in which `the hollow upstanding posts of the lower section are .fnustoconical and the hollow depending posts of :the upper `section are frusto pyrarnidal.

4. As a new article of .manufacture, a 'carton adapted to retain one and one-half dozen 'eggs 'of substantially the same size, having subs'tantially the same overall dirnensions as a conventional or standard single dozen egg carton of the type that has two :side :by 'side rows of six egg receiving compartments, and comprising a rectangular tray-like lower section formed of molded paper pulp, ernbodying a bottom wall, a pair of opposed upwardly extending side walls and a pair of opposed upwardly extending end walls, having Von its bottom 'wall and midway between its side walls a single `longitudinal series of .six equidistantly spaced upstanding upwardly ltapered hollow posts with :open'bottorns-and closed tops andof materially less height than .the sid'eand end walls, and provided on its -bottom, 'side andend walls with a hollow internal rib construction of such Character that it defines With `the upstanding `posts 'two rows of six open top lcompartments for receiving and raccornmodating the -bottom 'portions of one .dozen of the eggs, and a .complernental rectangular normally'inverted ltray-like upper section formed of molded paper pulp, embodying `a top wall, a Vpair of opposed downwardly extending side walls and a pair of opposed downwardly extending end walls, adapted to move into and -out iof an operative ;position wherein it overlies land registers with the lower section, and embodying o'n it-s top wall and midway between its side walls a single longitudinal `series of six hollow depending downwardly tapered posts arranged so that When the upper section -is in its operative position they are in alignment with the posts of the lower section, said depending .posts having open tops and closed bottoms and being of materially greater height than the side and end walls of the upper section, of materially greater mean width than the upstanding posts of the lower section, and of such height that when said upper section is in `its operative position the closed bottoms thereof rest lon the closed tops'of the upstanding posts of said lower section, said depending posts being shaped and lproportioned to form six open top compartments for receiving'and substantially completely housing the half dozen of the eggs and having the dimensions of the base .portions of their compartments substant'ially the same as the dimensions 'of the base portions of the open top compartrnents in the lower section, said upper section ernbodying on its top, side and end walls a hollow internal r-ib construction of such character that it defines with the depending posts two rows of six open b'ottom compartments arranged similarly to the open top compartments in the lower section and adapted when the upper section .is in its operative position to receive and accommodate the upper portions of the one dozen eggs in said open top compartments in the lower section.

References *Cited 'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,771 Graham June 30, 1936 2,285,l29 Schwartzberg June 2, 1942 2,569,681 Lennon Oct. 2, 1951 2,600,130 Schiiling June 10, 1952 

